Lafarge Gets New DON-BUR Eco Fleet

Thu, 22/10/2009

Lafarge Plasterboard and Wincanton have teamed up to provide a fleet of brand new teardrop trailers, helping to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change.

Lafarge Plasterboard, one of the UK's leading manufacturers of plasterboard systems, and Wincanton, the industry-leading logistics specialist, have teamed up to provide Lafarge with the new fleet, the first of its kind in the construction industry.

It will now feature 25 of the state-of-the art trailers, designed and manufactured by Don-Bur.

At a time when Government studies into the potential effects of climate change paint a daunting picture for the UK and the Prime Minister has pledged GBP60bn to combat the problem, the new Lafarge fleet will reduce the company's carbon emissions by 120 tonnes per year.

The average person in the UK has a carbon footprint of 12 tonnes per year so the reduction generated by the new fleet equates to that of 10 people every year.

This is achieved due to the improved aerodynamics of the teardrop fleet which reduces fuel consumption by eight per cent.

Each trailer also has the added benefit of being able to carry up to 16 per cent more cargo.

Richard Buxton, operations director for Lafarge Plasterboard, said: "The construction industry as a whole has a huge roll to play in combating climate change and help the UK reach its carbon reduction targets by 2016".

"Wincanton, our logistics partner, has worked hard to help us create the new fleet of teardrop vehicles, which will not only have a significant impact on the carbon footprint of Lafarge Plasterboard, but also that of our customers and their construction projects".

"Gordon Scott, managing director of Wincanton, added: "The carbon savings we will achieve by working with Lafarge Plasterboard demonstrates the positive contribution that industry can make to tackling climate change by taking a partnership approach".

"We will continue to work with Lafarge in order to develop further projects to help reduce the UK's carbon footprint".